Gridiron Classic (2006–2009)

The Gridiron Classic was an annual post-season college football game played from 2006 through 2009. It featured the conference champions from the Pioneer Football League (PFL) and Northeast Conference (NEC),[1] conferences within NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA. The game did not have a set location; it was hosted at the home stadium of one of the participants, alternating between NEC and PFL each playing.[2]

For the all-star game of the same name, see Gridiron Classic (1999–2005).
Gridiron Classic (defunct)
StadiumCampus sites
Operated2006–2009
Conference tie-insNortheast Conference
Pioneer Football League

History

The Gridiron Classic was announced in May 2006, initially with a two-year agreement between conferences.[3] The initial playing was set for November 18, 2006,[3] then later re-scheduled to December 2, 2006, so teams invited to the Division I FCS playoffs would be known.[4] Structurally, the Gridiron Classic was a bowl game, even through it did not use the word "Bowl" in its name.[2] At the time, it was the only bowl game at the FCS level.

The Gridiron Classic matched up the PFL and NEC champions, unless one of the teams received an at-large bid to the playoffs,[5] which did not happen during the seasons that the game was contested. Prior to 2010, the champions of the PFL and NEC did not receive automatic bids to the FCS playoffs. The NEC champion began receiving an automatic bid in 2010,[6] and the PFL champion began receiving an automatic bid in 2013.[7] Prior to the Gridiron Classic, the NEC had been tied to the ECAC Bowl, which ended in 2003.

In 2010, with the NEC champion receiving an automatic playoff bid, initial plans were to continue the Gridiron Classic with the second-place team from the NEC.[8] However, the game was cancelled by August.[9]

Game results
Date NEC team PFL team Venue Attend. Ref.
December 2, 2006 Monmouth7 San Diego27 Kessler Stadium (West Long Branch, NJ) 4,032[10]
December 1, 2007 Albany21 Dayton42 Welcome Stadium (Dayton, OH) 2,703[11]
December 6, 2008 Albany28 Jacksonville0 University Field (Albany, NY) 2,264[12]
December 5, 2009 Central Connecticut23 Butler28 Butler Bowl (Indianapolis, IN) 1,577[13][14]

host team

Most appearances
Teams with multiple appearances
Team Appearances Record
Albany21–1
Teams with a single appearance

Won: Butler, Dayton, San Diego
Lost: Central Connecticut, Jacksonville, Monmouth

Appearances by conference
Conference Appearances Wins Losses Win pct.
PFL431.750
NEC413.250

Media coverage
Date TV network Announcers Ref.
December 2, 2006CSTV [15]
December 1, 2007— [16]
December 6, 2008YES NetworkBob Lorenz, Ross Tucker[17][18]
December 5, 2009— [19]

References
  1. "Pioneer Football League & Northeast Conference Champions to meet". pioneer-football.org. May 16, 2006.
  2. Gokavi, Mark (December 1, 2007). "It's a bowl game by any name". Springfield News-Sun. Springfield, Ohio. p. 17. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  3. Cleaver, Brandon (May 17, 2006). "PFL winner to play Northeast champion". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 26. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  4. Gokavi, Mark (November 4, 2006). "Gridiron Classic update". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. B10. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "NEC, Pioneer Football League Announce Changes To Gridiron Classic". northeastconference.org. October 19, 2006.
  6. Graham, Tony (April 26, 2008). "NEC granted access to playoffs". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 28. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. Moorman, Chris (August 4, 2013). "Flyers set sights on playoff prize". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. 37. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  8. Graham, Tony (March 31, 2010). "Monmouth returns gridiron". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 31. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  9. Harris, Doug (August 11, 2010). "No Gridiron Classic". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. 15. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  10. https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=263362405
  11. https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=273352168
  12. https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=283410399
  13. https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=293392086
  14. "Butler 28, Central 23". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. December 6, 2009. p. E9. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  15. "On The Air Saturday". Chicago Tribune. December 2, 2006. p. 3-6. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  16. Gokavi, Mark (December 1, 2007). "Flyers have been a sacking success". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. B6. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  17. "On The Air". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. December 6, 2008. p. B2. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  18. "2008 Gridiron Classic Preview" (PDF). northeastconference.org. December 3, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  19. "On The Air". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. December 5, 2009. p. C2. Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
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